The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed lecturers in 20 universities to prepare for industrial action over the alleged failure of the Federal and state governments to fully implement the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.
The union issued a 14-day ultimatum to the affected governments and university authorities, warning that its branches would begin strike action if the outstanding issues were not resolved.
The decision was taken at ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9, 2026.
ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. He said an emergency NEC meeting would be held at the end of August or early September to review the situation and decide the next steps.
The affected universities are Nasarawa State University, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Gombe State University, Plateau State University, Adekunle Ajasin University, Ambrose Alli University, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Abia State University, University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Kaduna State University, Kano State University of Science and Technology, Northwest University, Kano, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Imo State University, Niger Delta University, University of Africa, Bayelsa Medical University and Taraba State University.
ASUU blamed the crisis on the “haphazard implementation” of the 2025 agreement and the Federal Government’s “lackadaisical attitude” towards releasing funds needed to implement it fully.
“NEC discussed the state of the struggle and noted that a significant milestone had been reached signing the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, but frowned at the haphazard implementation and lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government in the release of subvention to fully actualise the implementation of the said 2025 Agreement,” the union said.
The agreement, signed in December 2025 after more than 16 years of talks, included a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff from January 1, 2026, as well as allowances covering research, conferences, publications and other academic duties.
ASUU also raised concerns over academic promotions, appointments and insecurity on campuses, directing affected branches to petition security agencies and submit reports to its national leadership.
